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West Brom No.9 shirt inspires Shane Long
Friday 20th January 2012, 10:59AM GMT.
West Brom striker Shane Long gets up for a header ahead of Baggies defender Jonas Olsson and Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany.
Hot-shot Shane Long today revealed how West Bromwich Albion’s famous No.9 shirt has inspired him to his flying start at The Hawthorns.
A day after West Brom remembered legendary hitman Jeff Astle, Long revealed being handed the shirt worn by the club’s most famous goalscorers has spurred him on.
The summer signing has hit six goals in 18 appearances in the No.9 shirt worn by Astle and fellow Albion greats including Ronnie Allen, Cyrille Regis and Bob Taylor.
“I know I’m wearing a fairly iconic shirt in the No.9 and I’ve got a lot to do to live up to that shirt,” said the Ireland international.
“It’s early days yet and I’ve got an important couple of years ahead of me but hopefully I can keep performing and keep on the right side of the fans.
“I was always keen to take on the challenge and when the shirt was offered to me I snapped it up.
“Whatever shirt I wear, I give it my all and if it’s not enough, it’s not enough.
“But there is that extra pressure with the No.9 and I suppose it does push you a little bit more and that’s a good thing.
“A lot of the No.9s were before my time but I’ve heard a lot of stories and a lot of stats like goals-to-games so it’s a big thing for me to live up to. But that’s what I want to do and hopefully I can be remembered in that No.9 shirt as well.
“We play very good football and I’d like to think I’m doing my bit for the team.”
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Shane,that IS a special No.9 shirt,worn by Albion legends,but what you don’t know is that it also contains magical powers.
Before you were born,a player named John Kaye wore it,then one day he turned it upside down to become a ’6′.
And HE then went on to become a legend.
Oh,and then the new No.9 shirt was given to a guy we signed from Notts.County-
now what WAS his name…………..?
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Shane,
I believe you can chew what you have bit off. Go to it lad. We had another who wore the shirt, sometimes. He frightened the Russian to death. Big “Derek Kevan” was the name.
BOING~~~~BOING~~~~JtH.
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Gerra goal tomorra aer kid, yow’ll be a Black Country mon in seconds !
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astle and kevan were before my time, though i know plenty about them from me old man and me grandad
big cyrille was the number 9 of my lifetime, and if shane long goes half way to emulating the feats of that great gentleman i’ll be more than happy
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1 Rocket.
That reminded me of the picture on the back of the Evening Mail with a heading of, I think ‘Dial 999.’ The picture had Jeff, Johnny Kaye and Ray Crawford all holding a No 9 shirt. Ray Crawford was allowed to leave and I think it was because of the effectiveness of The King and Bomber that the inspired move of making Yorkie our No 6 came about.
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